Buying guide

Definition

There's one in a cupboard in every clean and tidy house. Vacuum cleaners are an eternal household appliance that have remained under the spotlight due to recent innovations. The advent of bagless vacuum cleaners a few years ago significantly changed the market, and the development of robot cleaners heralds a revolutionary new way to keep our houses clean.

Choosing your vacuum cleaner

Get to know about the types of vacuum cleaners

There are different types of vacuum cleaners that you can find in the market. From canister to upright to handheld to stick to convertible, the options are galore. And there are several models in each of these options. So, you need to first consider the type of vacuum cleaner you require and then look at the available models within that type. The descriptions below should help.

Canister – These are among the most common vacuum cleaners and come equipped with canisters that you can carry along with you wherever there is a cleaning job required. The canisters have wheels for easy movement.

Upright – These are the most popular vacuum cleaners. These vacuum cleaners get positioned upright and this means you don’t need to bend when using these machines.

Robot – If you just want to sit back and see your vacuum cleaner jumping all over the floor and doing the cleaning job, you need a robot vacuum cleaner. It is indeed great fun letting these cleaners work and they actually clean quite well.

Handheld – These are those small vacs that are lightweight and manageable. These vacuum cleaners are perfect for cleaning tight space and the insides of cars and so on. Some of these vacuum cleaners are available as wireless.

Stick – Another among the small and lightweight but low powered vacuum cleaners are the stick models. These are basic in structure, but they can reach places where other vacuum cleaners cannot reach.

Convertible – These are more novelty vacuum cleaners as they can convert from one type to another – upright to canister and vice versa or handheld to stick and vice versa and so on.

Consider suction power and not power consumption

The amps written on a vacuum cleaner can be confusing. Please note that amps don’t always indicate the power of a vacuum cleaner, but rather the power it is going to consume when at work. You should rather focus on the suction power of a vacuum cleaner when you are about to make a purchase.

Bag or canister vacuum cleaner?

A critical component of buying a vacuum cleaner is to think about the ones with bags and the ones with canisters. The former are equipped with bags that can hold more dust and need to be disposed of when full. The ones with canisters don’t need replacements and offer you long-term solutions. You need to change the filter from time to time. The ones with canisters are typically heavier, something to keep in mind.

Consider vacuum cleaners with HEPA

Many of the modern vacuum cleaners are equipped with HEPA (high-efficiency particulate absorption) filters. You may think that this is a luxury, but the fact remains that HEPA Filters can remove dust, mould, pet hair and other impurities from the air. If there is someone allergic to dust at home, these vacuum cleaners could be your perfect solution.

Make sure you know about the accessories

Consider the accessories of the vacuum cleaners that you have shortlisted. Some may have accessories that you don’t need and there is no need to pay more for these vacuum cleaners. Your purchase decision should completely depend on your usage – where, when, what and how frequently.

Which vacuum cleaners for which use?

If you have pets at home, you should consider vacuum cleaners that are specially designed to remove pet hair. These vacuum cleaners have accessories that can go into the deepest crevices of sofas and other furniture items and suck in the pet hair. The Miele Classic Cat & Dog Turbo S8320 Vacuum Cleaner is a good choice in this category.

To be able to get the cleaning done without you having to move around too much is only possible with a robot vacuum cleaner. These vacuum cleaners look like discs and they are extremely versatile and effective in their cleaning job. Some of the best models include iRobot Roomba 630 and LG Roboking VR6340LV.

If you are looking for a vacuum cleaner with HEPA Filter, you don’t need to search a lot. Most of the top vacuum cleaners have HEPA Filter installed in them. The Dyson DC37C Origin, the Miele Classic Hard Floor S8360 and the Kogan Cordless 20.4V 2-in-1 Stick Vacuum Cleaner are good choices.

Going through the names of the top manufacturers of vacuum cleaners should help you purchase the right machine. Some of the top models selling in Australia include Dyson, Electrolux, Miele, LG and Karcher.